WHAT a lovely day for a run!

The sun had barely risen when the first runners made their way to the start of this year’s New Swindon Half yesterday.

The County Ground car park filled up with politicians, fundraisers, fitness fans and first-timers getting ready to tackle the course.

Matt Holland made a spur-of-the-moment decision to sign up for this year’s event the night before.

He said: “It’s quite exciting.

“I ran last year in two hours and 12 minutes, but this time I’ve had no preparation.

“This event is a wonderful celebration of Swindon, it’s a festival of running - and I love festivals.

“I’m running for the Swindon Advocacy Movement, they’re a bit short of money so I thought I’d support them.”

Councillors Stan Pajak, Tim Swinyard, Nadine Watts, Emma Bushell, Mayor Junab Ali, and South Swindon MP Robert Buckland put politics to one side for the day.

Robert said: “This is my second year in a row running for Hop Skip and Jump.

“I’ve done a bit of training around Coate Water, so hopefully I can make it to the end in one piece.

“I’d like to thank the organising team for making this happen.

“It’s important that we have a half-marathon, it’s a great sporting and social occasion for Swindon.”

As 8am approached, one brave participant known only as Big Al volunteered to get on stage and lead a quick warm-up routine.

Costumes including a banana, a baby and a ballerina could be seen amongst the crowd.

Community poet Tony Hillier multitasked by writing and reciting poetry as he made his way along the route.

One of the last people to leave the starting line was a man who, for reasons unknown, had decided to attempt a world-first record for crawling a half-marathon.

He received the biggest applause from onlookers who had got up early to watch the throng set off along the Magic Roundabout and up Queens Drive.

Many Swindonians signed up for the run, but plenty of others came from far and wide to take part.

Rachel Tranter from Evesham enjoyed getting the chance to explore the town while raising money for a cause that was close to her heart.

She said: “I work for Nationwide and their head office is based here, though the only bit of Swindon I’d seen before today was Pipers Way.

“It was fun to see all the bits of Swindon I’d never been to before.

“This is my 15th half-marathon, though I’m very slow and don’t really care about finishing times, I only want to make it to the finish!

“I’m doing this to raise money for Diabetes UK because my son Alex was diagnosed with diabetes when he was six years old.

“I’ve raised £12,000 for charity over the last two years, which is when I started running – before that, I couldn’t even run a mile.

“These half-marathons are good practice for the London Marathon next year.”

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/rachel-tranter5

Commercial Road was abuzz with activity as hundreds of supporters cheered each runner who crossed the finish line before they went to Wharf Green to refuel, rehydrate and reunite with their loved ones.

PC Paul Croft set a world record by completing the course in full riot gear for mental health charity Mind in two hours and 16 minutes.

Carol Lacey hugged her husband David after he ran to raise money for CALM in memory of their late daughter, 18-year-old Alexandra who had non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Carol said: “”It was nice to have someone to talk to who had been through it and could understand.”

David said: “Helping CALM is the reason I got back into running, it was hard work and I’m tired but relieved.”